Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon this weekend

Tomorrow sees the annual Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon return for its sixth year running. The event is will attract around 18,000 runners, with the whole event punctuated with live music, including live post-race performances from Sir-Mix-a-Lot and The Presidents of the United States of America at Seattle Center.

The 'running block party', as it's dubbed, begins at 7am from the John Street and Fifth Avenue North corner of Seattle Center, where the race also finishes. Local Seattle bands will be performing all along the route, with musical styles including rock, funk, punk and blues ensuring there will be something for everyone - if you're not too busy running to enjoy it!

The event seems to be more popular with women than many other marathons, with The Seattle Times reporting that 62 percent of the runners in this week's race will be women. That breaks down to 65 percent of the half-marathon participants and 47 percent of the full version. But given the half marathon consists of 75 percent of the participants, women still make up the majority of the field overall.

Of the remaining 38 percent, one notable man running the race is eight-time Olympic medallist Apolo Ohno. Competitior reports that although the 32 year old athlete is a retired speed skater, he is reinventing himself as an endurance athlete. He will be partaking in the 13.1 mile half marathon, having completed the 2011 New York City Marathon with a time of three hours, 25 minutes.

Last year, the marathon was won by Yon Yilma with a time of two hours, 29 minutes and 53 seconds, with Nuta Olaru as the fastest woman at two hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds. The half marathon was won by Pat Rizzo with an impressive one hour, five minutes and 58 seconds. Nikki Gamble Leith was the fastest woman at one hour, 25 minutes and six seconds.